Depression in adolescents with mental retardation: a clinical study

Abstract

Mental retardation (MR) has often been considered an intellectual impairment principally requiring educational or social interventions; hence, the psychiatric dimension of the problem has been neglected (Potter, 1971). This is particularly true for children and adolescents with MR (Masi et al., 1996). The impact of MR on personality development is confirmed by psychopathological vulnerability of people with MR (Masi, 1997). According to the DSM-IV (American Psychiatric Association, 1994), all the types of mental disorders can be observed in these subjects, with a prevalence estimated to be at least 3 or 4 times higher than in the general population. Rutter et al. (1970) in their epidemiological study in the isle of Wight examined psychiatric and behavioural problems in all 9 and 10 year old with IQ under 70, screened by group IQ test, then assessed with individual WISC (Weschler, 1974) (59 subjects). They used standardised parent